Newfoundland and Labrador Product Development Strategy

- 67 -Department of Transportation and WorksThis Department has responsibility for the highway signage program that was discussedearlier.It also operates seventeen intra-provincial passenger ferries, including service from St. Barbeto Blanc Sablon, Goose Bay to Cartwright, various seasonal passenger/freight services alongcoastal Labrador as well as along the south coast, and passenger/vehicle service to Fogo andChange Islands, to Bell Island, St. Brendan’s and Ramea to Grey Island to Burgeo.CommentsThe intra-provincial ferry service presents challenges in terms of being tourism-ready. Theyinclude being able to get reliable schedules with sufficient notice, the resulting uncertaintiesin making reservations, and food and customer service on board as well as the informationand directions provided to users who are not local. The tourism opportunity for expanded andinter-ferry connections along the south coast will be addressed later in the report..Department of Human Resources, Labour and EmploymentThe Programs and Regional Services Branch of this restructured Department is focused onlinkages between human resource and economic development that will bring employment toindividuals. This includes partnering with the federal government and other agencies,developing employment and career programs and assisting clients to develop employment andcareer plans through training strategies.This can include the development of tourism career paths for prospective tourism employeesand business owners.OtherComprehensive land use and strategic planning for tourism development is needed at thecommunity level in Newfoundland and LabradorThe Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs formerly provided basic ongoingplanning advice and assistance (not tourism-specific) to municipalities across the province.The Department was down-sized a few years ago and no longer provides this service.Currently, planning decisions are made largely by “default”, with planning input only beingmade in reaction to isolated development proposals.There is no introduction of new Councils to planning community imperatives and prioritiesand no on-going professional planning advice being provided. This is an important issueaffecting the future of the tourism industry.THE ECONOMIC PLANNING GROUP of Canada Newfoundland & Labrador Tourism Product DevelopmentD. W. Knight Associates Strategy and Accommodation Needs Study